By Linda Kwanjana
European Union through European Investment Bank (UIB) has today given Malawi a whopping K176Billion towards enhancement of power generation as well as Civil Society capacity building.
Minister of Finance and Economic affairs Hon Simplex Chithyola Banda has hailed European Union for the grant.
Chithyola also commended Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for his sound leadership.
He said was so happy for the big day. He said this speaks in volumes in terms of degree of trust and confidence that donors have in the leadership of Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and his government.
“Remember we are talking about two projects hear, this include the £85 million for the strengthening power production by coming up with the largest lines for power in this country. But we are also talking about the support to civil society in the private sector in this country. 85 million and 8 million so obviously, I am more than happy because we are talking of 93 Million Euros which is almost K176Billion,” he said.
He said this project will provide quality infrastructure that will improve Malawi’s power sector by upgrading the Eastern Backbone transmission lines joining the central and northern regions of the country.
“A new 132 kV line will be constructed on steel latticed towers to replace the 42-year-old wooden pole-mounted lines which serve important domestic, agro-based industries, mining and rural growth centres.
The new line will cover 293km starting from the existing Nkhoma substation in Lilongwe and run east to Nanjoka substation in Salima,” he said.
He said with this funding , the transmission line will extend northwards along Lake Malawi connecting to existing substations at Nkhotakota, Dwangwa and Chintheche in the northern region.
